The Wayro route from Rio das Ostras to Itaúnas is 388 miles (624 km), about 10 h 25 min of driving without stops.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: informal housing developments (favelas, vilas, comunidades or conglomerados).
Full advisory: Brazil. Advisory issued: Brazil August 31, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Brazil: “Drivers must have their daytime running lights on during the day and headlights on at night on Federal Highways.”
| Distance by road | 388 mi (624 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 10 h 25 min |
| Main roads, in order | RJ-106 → BR-101 → RJ-228 → ES-422 → ES-010 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 15.5 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 8 |
What the drive from Rio das Ostras to Itaúnas is like
BR-101 (284 mi) and RJ-228 (43 mi) carry about 84% of the 388 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo. Of the 8 stops listed below, 2 are within a mile of the road.
The route from Rio das Ostras to Itaúnas, road by road
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–4 | 4 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-106 | 4–12 | 8 | Rio de Janeiro |
| local roads | 12–25 | 13 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-106 | 25–32 | 7 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-101 | 32–108 | 76 | Rio de Janeiro |
| RJ-228 | 108–151 | 43 | Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo |
| BR-101 | 151–359 | 208 | Espírito Santo |
| connecting roads | 359–364 | 5 | Espírito Santo |
| ES-422 | 364–375 | 11 | Espírito Santo |
| ES-010 | 375–387 | 12 | Espírito Santo |
| local roads | 387–388 | 1 | Espírito Santo |
- Mile 123 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → Espírito Santo (state line)
Places worth a stop between Rio das Ostras and Itaúnas
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Casa da Cultura de Fundão (mile 258), St. Matthew Cathedral, São Mateus (mile 360)
- Nature and outdoors: Frade e a Freira Natural Monument (mile 159), Paulo César Vinha State Park (mile 206), Morro do Penedo Natural Monument (mile 226)
- Museums and history: Forte Marechal Hermes (mile 16), Palácio dos Urubus (mile 17), Casa da Cultura de Fundão (mile 258), St. Matthew Cathedral, São Mateus (mile 360)
Forte Marechal Hermes
Forte Marechal Hermes stands just south of the Macaé River mouth in Macaé, on the point of land between Imbetiba and Conchas beaches, facing the Sant'Anna archipelago.
Palácio dos Urubus
Palácio dos Urubus is a historic building on Rua Doutor Télio Barreto in the center of Macaé, in Rio de Janeiro state.
Frade e a Freira Natural Monument
Created by state decree in 2007, the Frade e a Freira Natural Monument is a state-run protected area in Espírito Santo spanning parts of Itapemirim, Cachoeiro de Itapemirim and Vargem Alta.
Paulo César Vinha State Park
Along the Atlantic shore in Guarapari, Paulo César Vinha State Park protects dunes, lagoons and marshes. Its trails lead to the beach and to Lagoa de Caraís.
Morro do Penedo Natural Monument
Morro do Penedo Natural Monument protects a small sugarloaf-shaped hill on the shore of the bay south of Vitória, the capital of Espírito Santo state.
Casa da Cultura de Fundão
Once the Agostini family residence, this two-story house in Fundão is protected as cultural heritage by Espírito Santo state and now works as a museum.
Buddha of Ibiraçu
Beside the BR-101 highway in Ibiraçu, a 35-meter Buddha statue rises at the Morro da Vargem Zen monastery. The giant figure, part of the monastery grounds, was officially inaugurated in August 2021.
St. Matthew Cathedral, São Mateus
St. Matthew Cathedral in the municipality of São Mateus is a Catholic church regarded as a reference for modern religious art in Brazil.
Arriving in Itaúnas
Itaúnas State Park
In northern Espírito Santo, Itaúnas State Park protects the lower Itaúnas River along with a strip of marshes, dunes and Atlantic beaches.
More drives to Itaúnas
- Serra to Itaúnas
- Cariacica to Itaúnas
- Vitória to Itaúnas
- Vila Velha to Itaúnas
- Guarapari to Itaúnas
- Cachoeiro de Itapemirim to Itaúnas
From Rio das Ostras to other places in Brazil
- Rio das Ostras to Itaguaí
- Rio das Ostras to Barra do Piraí
- Rio das Ostras to Resende
- Rio das Ostras to Penedo
- Rio das Ostras to Fumaça
- Rio das Ostras to Historic Village of Mambucaba
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to drive from Rio das Ostras to Itaúnas?
About 10 h 25 min of driving without stops, over 388 miles.
How far is Itaúnas from Rio das Ostras by car?
About 388 miles (624 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
Is it safe to drive from Rio das Ostras to Itaúnas?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Rio das Ostras to Itaúnas?
In order: RJ-106, BR-101, RJ-228, ES-422 and ES-010. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Rio das Ostras to Itaúnas?
Closest to the road: Palácio dos Urubus (historic palace, mile 17, 1 mi from the route); Casa da Cultura de Fundão (museum, mile 258, 0.3 mi from the route); St. Matthew Cathedral, São Mateus (cathedral, mile 360, 0.4 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on October 10, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.